Mookgo Solomon Kgatle
Biographic Data
| ID | 1086726 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Mookgo Solomon Kgatle |
| GIVEN NAMES | Mookgo Solomon |
| FAMILY NAME | Kgatle |
| SIGNATURE | KGATLE M S |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of South Africa |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-9556-6597 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 81 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 67 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 79 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 2 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2017 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 5 |
Developing a Pentecostal ecumenical fivefold ministry framework (PEFMF) within African neo-Pentecostalism
The fivefold ministry acknowledges the five clerical offices: Apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher, as outlined in Ephesians 4.11. However, in mainline Christianity, the fivefold ministry is often seen as a concept limited to the early church and considered discontinued in today’s church. The reviewed literature in qualitative research also shows that some neo-Pentecostal pastors in Africa pursue titles like Apostles and Prophets as …
The role of Brueggemann’s ‘prophetic imagination’ in neo-prophetism and South African politics
The relationship between Pentecostalism and politics in South Africa has been studied before, including the role of Pentecostal churches and clergy in the fight against apartheid and the advancement of democracy in the democratic dispensation. What remains under-researched is the role of prophecy within neo-prophetic churches in addressing the contemporary political discourses in the 21st century. To address this research gap, this article uses l…
A pneumatological orientation of human life and its contribution to the Christian mission within Pentecostalism
A pneumatological orientation of human life is premised on the theology of the Spirit (pneumatology), particularly Spirit baptism and the subsequent pneumatic experiences within the Pentecostal tradition. A Pneumatological orientation of human life has been framed as the relevant framework for the transformation and spiritual growth of individual believers. In addition, pneumatological orientation of human life has been studied as the denunciatio…
Framing Moya in a Trinitarian Perspective, within African and Pentecostal Pneumatology
The reviewed literature demonstrates that moya, as a pneumatological concept, has been studied in both African pneumatology and Pentecostal pneumatology. In African pneumatology, the concept has been applied to human existence, the spiritual realm, and as part of African cosmology respectively. In Pentecostal pneumatology, the distinctions between the Holy Spirit and other spirits, in the conceptualization of moya have been explored. However, the…
Developing the Scholarship of Ecclesiastical and Ecumenical Engagements in African Pentecostal Studies
Engaged scholarship (also known as scholarship of engagement) is an approach to developing knowledge that values the interactions between the academy and the relevant communities. This article uses this approach to develop the scholarship of the ecclesiastical and ecumenical engagement (EEE) framework as an approach to Pentecostal studies in the African context(s). This paper argues that knowledge systems in African Pentecostal studies cannot be …
The significance of vocational training among neo-Pentecostal pastors in South Africa
The current theological training of pastors is done in different institutions of higher learning, such as universities, seminaries, and bible colleges. However, among some pastors in neo-Pentecostal churches, this type of training is not impactful, as some do not even have the matriculation to enrol in such institutions. This presents a challenge to theological education among the neo-Pentecostal pastors in South Africa, such as its inability to …
Value of accreditation for theological institutions and qualifications among Pentecostal-type ministries in South Africa
In some Christian traditions, a pastor is required to qualify at an accredited institution of higher learning such as a university or a seminary. However, in Pentecostal-type ministries, some pastors start churches without an accredited qualification arguing they do not need a qualification to become pastors but only a calling for ministry. Consequently, these pastors end up being exploited by non-accredited institutions offering them non-accredi…
Lephoko, Daniel S. 'Nicholas Bhekinkosi Hepworth Bhengu’s Lasting Legacy
LEPHOKO, Daniel S. Nicholas Bhekinkosi Hepworth Bhengu’s Lasting Legacy: World’s Best Black Soul Crusader. Pretoria: AOSIS, 2018. 350 pp. ISBN: 9781928396529. Open access
African Pentecostalism and Lived Experiences in Local Cultural, Religious, and Diaspora Contexts
African Pentecostalism is studied as part of the Pentecostal Movement that emphasises direct relationship with God through baptism in the Holy Spirit. Shaping the landscape of Christianity on the continent and in the diaspora, African Pentecostalism stands at the center of the shift in the growth of Christianity from the Global North to the Global South. An interesting current trend is the growth of African Pentecostalism in the diaspora, which a…
Developing a missional and ethical digital framework for liturgical practices
This article explores the adaptation of African Independent Churches (AICs) to the evolving digital landscape, with a focus on the implications of technology for liturgical practices, community cohesion, and the empowerment of congregants. Utilizing the St. John Apostolic Church of the Whole World (SJACWW) as a pivotal case study, this investigation highlights the digital transformation of liturgical methodologies, including the adoption of onlin…
The interplay between the material and non-material pneumatology in Pentecostalism
Pneumatology also known as the theology of the Spirit within the Pentecostal movement is one of its fundamental teachings. This theology has been studied from both the non-material and material perspectives. This article looks at the possibility of bringing both the non-material and the material pneumatology through Pneumatological imagination. Pneumatological imagination in the works of Amos Yong and the Pentecost narrative in Lukan-Acts demonst…
Pneumatological communal discernment and a possibility of including unheard voices in decision-making
Communal discernment is the idea of involving the group in decision-making as opposed to decisions by individuals. Previous studies worked within the ecclesiological perspectives and highlighted the key principles of communal discernment such as the communion of believers, the communal reading of scripture, the communal discernments of spirit(s), and the common commitment to carrying out the decision reached through communal discernment. This art…
Theology and science as a Pentecostal hermeneutical approach to the Genesis creation narrative
Two hermeneutical methods inform the Pentecostal reading of the Bible: the fundamentalist literalist reading and the Pentecostal hermeneutics of experience. These two positions in Bible reading among Pentecostals have contributed to the literal and experiential reading of the Genesis creation narrative in tracing human origins and somehow caused a rejection of other scientific approaches. This article proposes the theological and scientific appro…
Religious Tourism in the Context of Pentecostalism
Religious tourism is commonly known for the visits by believers to religious sites and pilgrimages for religious purposes. In African Pentecostalism, religious tourism is known for the movement of believers from one country to another in search of greater power and blessings. This also includes powerful politicians who would visit a prophet in another African country in search of prayers. This kind of movement has been perceived negatively, parti…
Spirit-Filled World
African Pentecostalism is in continuity with popular religion in linking African challenges and problems to the spirit world. However, Allan Anderson, a leading Pentecostal theologian, argues that this continuity should be studied simultaneously with the discontinuity between African Pentecostalism and certain popular religions. Based on this argument, there exists a tension between continuity with certain popular religions in African Pentecostal…
The fivefold ministry in African neo-Pentecostalism
The fivefold ministry is the belief in the functioning of the five offices in ecclesial leadership such as apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, and evangelists. Contrary to the practice in mainline Christianity and classical Pentecostalism, African neo-Pentecostals believe that the fivefold ministry is functional in the contemporary church as much as it was in the early church. Hence, the clergy in these churches takes on various titles such as…
Missiology as encounterology
Encounterology is a missiological approach to the theology of religions that was developed by J.N.J. Kritzinger – a South African missiologist. The approach recognises the encounter between people of different faiths or religions such as Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism and others. Encounterology is a theology of a particular interfaith encounter that is relevant to the theology of religions. Encounterology is discussed here as a …
Mega-costalism, socialising, and prosperity gospel in the South African context
There is a rising phenomenon of mega Pentecostal churches in South Africa and elsewhere on the continent of Africa, which is conceptualised here as mega-costalism. The phenomenon refers to churches with mega-church buildings that can attract large crowds in church attendance. Previous studies have focused on the prosperity gospel and the socialising aspect of membership in mega Pentecostal churches. This literature review on the mega Pentecostal …
Pentecostal theology regarding disability in African neo-Pentecostalism
The Pentecostal approach to disability is currently informed by the imposed healing, deliverance, and performance of other miracles, particularly among neo-Pentecostals in Africa. This is also informed by the neo-Pentecostal pastor’s radical approach to the aspect of healing in Pentecostal theology. Therefore, instead of addressing disability from the point of environmental, social, and technological aspects, neo-Pentecostal pastors either impose…
Leadership by the Spirit in Pentecostalism
Pneumatology refers to the study of the Spirit within Pentecostal theology. Similarly, Pentecostals believe that pneumatology has a role to play in ecclesiastical leadership, which results in leadership through the Holy Spirit. In this article, this kind of leadership is theorised as pneumatocracy and is discussed in contrast to other leadership theories such as autocracy and democracy. The article seeks to demonstrate that pneumatocracy in the P…
Black Pentecostal reflections on the inward-looking approach in classical Pentecostalism
This article problematises the inward-looking approach adopted by classical Pentecostalism in a South African context. A literature review on White-led classical Pentecostal churches reveals that in their early development, these churches were inward-looking and only concentrated on their theology of Spirit baptism, evangelism, and eschatological expectations. This inward-looking approach made classical Pentecostalism passive in response to socio…
God-talk rhetoric and the abuse of Women in Neo-Pentecostalism
One of the tenets of neo-Pentecostalism is the claim of "hearing from God", particularly by neo-Pentecostal pastors and prophets in Africa. It is for this reason that even during the sermon presentation in Neo-Pentecostalism there is an element of “thus says the Lord”. This notion is theorised here as a God-talk rhetoric to apply to neo-Pentecostalism. The intersectionality of God-talk rhetoric and abuse of women within neo-Pentecostalism has bee…
Are they Pentecostal? A theological perspective on the inclusion or exclusion of Zionist African Independent Churches into the Pentecostal tradition
One of the contended issues in Pentecostal studies is the exclusion or inclusion of African Independent Churches (AICs) as part of the Pentecostal tradition. This article resuscitates this old debate by looking specifically into the inclusion or exclusion of Zionist AICs in the Pentecostal tradition to make a theological contribution. This will be achieved by briefly discussing the Zionist AICs in the South African context. The various factors th…
An interdisciplinary approach to theological studies in a public university
Theological curriculum in South African universities is comprised of disciplines such as church history, the Old Testament, the New Testament, systematic theology, missiology and practical theology. Theology has been approached through these disciplines and their interaction with each other in an intradisciplinary way. This article argues that theology needs to be done beyond theological disciplines through an interdisciplinary approach to increa…
Megacostalism and the pandemic
Megacostalism is a concept developed here to refer to the growing trend of mega Pentecostal churches in Africa. The mega Pentecostal churches are popular in the United States of America with leading pastors such as T.D. Jakes, Creflo Dollar, Joel Osteen, and so forth. There is an interesting growing trend of this type of churches in Africa particularly in West Africa in countries such as Nigeria and Ghana. There has also been a development of meg…
Go deeper papa, prophesy, do something’
Traditionally, the ministry of deliverance in African Pentecostalism involves the deliverance from generational curses, deliverance as spiritual warfare against witchcraft and other demonic forces and deliverance for healing. Most scholars have already covered the traditional practices of the ministry of deliverance. In this article what is new is the study of deliverance ministry within New Prophetic Churches (NPCs) in South Africa, which the ar…
Peculiarities in the Pentecostal tradition
The African Pentecostal tradition as a distinct movement within the Protestant tradition is discussed here from disciplinal and decolonial perspectives. The characteristics that inform this distinction are explored to show that Pentecostalism is part of the Protestant tradition but distinct from other streams within this tradition. In addition, the different types and streams that exist within the broader Pentecostal movement such as classical Pe…
Prosperity gospel and the culture of greed in post-colonial Africa
Christianity in post-colonial Africa is highly influenced and shaped by the prosperity message. The popular and materialistic gospel is sweeping across the continent like a gale-force wind, which is irresistible. Previous studies on prosperity gospel have indeed defined the concept as a global phenomenon and in an African context. This study is an interdisciplinary reflection on prosperity gospel and the culture of greed in post-colonial Africa. …
Grieving during a pandemic
Collective grieving during the death and the burial processes of a loved one forms part of the healing process of many Africans in different contexts. However, with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the various restrictions imposed during the hard lockdown, the form and shape of grieving has had to change. Factors such as limitations on the number of people who can attend the funeral, lack of contact with the corpse, overall tr…
New paradigms of pneumatological ecclesiology brought about by new prophetic churches within South African Pentecostalism
Pneumatological ecclesiology has caught the interest of many Pentecostal theologians, especially in the three main sub-traditions of Pentecostalism, that is, classical Pentecostalism (later CP), Pentecostal African Independent Churches (later PAIC) and charismatics. There is however a research gap in studying pneumatological ecclesiology in the new prophetic churches (later NPCs). Therefore, the study of pneumatological ecclesiology in light of t…
Singing as a therapeutic agent in Pentecostal worship
Singing has always been part of worship in a Pentecostal spiritual service. However, the role of singing in Pentecostal worship as a therapeutic agent has been under-researched. In order to bridge this research gap, this article is an interdisciplinary study of singing and Pentecostal worship. It seeks to demonstrate that the act of singing is a therapeutic agent in Pentecostal worship. The article will explore singing as a biblical concept to es…
Consultations in New Prophetic Churches and African Traditional Religions
New prophetic churches have a different approach to classical Pentecostalism when it comes to the practice of divine healing. Unlike classical Pentecostalism, new prophetic churches embrace the practice of consulting prophets in divine healing in the same way as that in which a traditional healer would be consulted in traditional African religions. During the consultation, the prophet charges a fee and prescribes sacred products that are similar …
Towards a balancing act between the emergence of prophetic churches and organisational culture in South African Pentecostalism
Scholars with interest in South African Pentecostalism have highlighted the emergence of New Prophetic Churches (later NPCs) in South Africa in the last 5 years. These scholars have indeed characterised NPCs, their theology of new prophetism and pointed to the leading figures in these churches. Majority of these scholarly works have highlighted the abuse of religion by some NPCs. Research gap exists in the relationship between the NPCs and organi…
Religious live-streaming in response to coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown in South Africa
he novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a virus that firstly struck in Wuhan, China, but its impact is felt by the whole world. The spread of the virus in South Africa caused President Cyril Ramaphosa to announce a national state of disaster in the country on 15 March 2020. Subsequently, on 23 March 2020, the President announced a total shutdown of the economy, which is also known as lockdown, effective from 26 March 2020. The restriction…
Social media and religion
Recent works on social media and religion have paid particular attention to the role of social media in the development of religious values, improvement of social values and gratification of faith-based content by using various methodologies. A missiological perspective or approach to social media and religion will assist in exploring the role of Facebook in the emergence of prophetic churches. The background of prophetic churches is discussed he…
A socio-historical analysis of the sections in the Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa from 1908 to the present
The article presents a socio-historical analysis of the sections in the Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) of South Africa from 1908 to the present. In order to achieve this, the article studies the relationship between the South African social politics and the ecclesiastical politics. It demonstrates how the AFM got divided into sections. The sections are the white, mixed race, Indian and black sections. The four sections in the AFM were not equal in…
Towards Ecumenical Dialogue between African Pentecostalism and Roman Catholic
There are undoubtedly differences between Roman Catholic and African Pentecostalism such as doctrinal issues and salvific conceptualisations. Besides non-Catholics, specifically Pentecostal churches have always been perceived as non-churches and lacking the real salvation by Roman Catholics. Thus, Roman Catholics have looked at Pentecostals with the eye of suspicion regardless of ecumenical efforts made to bring the two together. Similarly, Pente…
Thuma Mina
This article explores the prospect of the Ramaphosa presidency and its success by reflecting on the ‘Thuma Mina’ concept. In his State of the Nations Address on 16 February 2018, President Ramaphosa cited the Thuma Mina song of Hugh Masekela to mobilise the resourcefulness of South Africans to volunteer their services to create a better future for all. In this article, it becomes clear that ‘Thuma Mina’ is more than just a song by Hugh Masekela a…
The Relationship between the Economic Strand of Contemporary Pentecostalism and Neo-Liberalism in Post-1994 South Africa
South Africa endured racial segregation under the national party for many years until 1994, with the attainment of democracy. In the process of negotiating a democracy like the CODESA negotiations, the ANC-led government found itself adopting economic policies that embraced neo-liberalism, which later became unfavorable to the black majority in South Africa. Consequently, although these economic policies of the post-colonial South Africa have mad…
An interdisciplinary approach to theological studies in a public university
Theological curriculum in South African universities is comprised of disciplines such as church history, the Old Testament, the New Testament, systematic theology, missiology and practical theology. Theology has been approached through these disciplines and their interaction with each other in an intradisciplinary way. This article argues that theology needs to be done beyond theological disciplines through an interdisciplinary approach to increa…
A Decolonial Perspective on the Practice of Unveiling Tombstones in Pentecostal and Charismatic Churches in South Africa
Tombstone, the practice of demarcating a grave and unveiling it in some instances, has been common since ancient times. The practice is related to marking the grave in order to remember its geographical location, and subsequently for future generations to identify with it. This practice is very common in a South African context, especially in African traditional religion (ATR). In addition, they would have other ceremonies to revisit the grave an…
Abuse, power and discourse in the public trial of Timothy Omotoso
Exposure of gender-based violence (GBV) has recently received attention from both scholars and the public. However, GBV within Christian discourse, and specifically as it occurs among pastors of the new Prophetic Pentecostal Churches (PPC), is yet to be explored in detail. This article begins to address this research gap by highlighting the difficulty of proving sexual and spiritual abuse in a secular court of law, as shown in the public trial of…
Gender dimensions in Pentecostal leadership
Women play an important role in Pentecostal Christianity, especially in an African context. They are a majority in most local assemblies and contribute a large percentage in terms of the income of such assemblies. Women are active participants in the activities of local assemblies such as prayer, fellowship and catering. The participation of women in general activities has been acknowledged by scholars interested in gender dimensions in Pentecost…
Servant leadership
The aspects of the political leadership in South Africa discussed in this article include, among others, abuse of power, corruption and lack of public accountability. In response to these aspects, the article demonstrates that servant leadership is an urgent style for the current state of political leadership in South Africa. The article discusses key aspects of the current political leadership in South Africa as a point of departure. The article…
A socio-historical analysis of the sections in the Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa from 1908 to the present
The article presents a socio-historical analysis of the sections in the Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) of South Africa from 1908 to the present. In order to achieve this, the article studies the relationship between the South African social politics and the ecclesiastical politics. It demonstrates how the AFM got divided into sections. The sections are the white, mixed race, Indian and black sections. The four sections in the AFM were not equal in…
The prophetic voice of the South African Council of Churches
One of the factors that dismantled the apartheid system in South Africa was the prophetic voice of many religious leaders who emerged from ecumenical formations and fought the system by speaking truth to power. However, many scholars agree that the attainment of democracy in 1994 caused the prophetic voice to become silent. This article argues that the prophetic voice is not silent but rather weak in post-1994 South Africa. There are three reason…
Servant leadership
The aspects of the political leadership in South Africa discussed in this article include, among others, abuse of power, corruption and lack of public accountability. In response to these aspects, the article demonstrates that servant leadership is an urgent style for the current state of political leadership in South Africa. The article discusses key aspects of the current political leadership in South Africa as a point of departure. The article…
Social media and religion
Recent works on social media and religion have paid particular attention to the role of social media in the development of religious values, improvement of social values and gratification of faith-based content by using various methodologies. A missiological perspective or approach to social media and religion will assist in exploring the role of Facebook in the emergence of prophetic churches. The background of prophetic churches is discussed he…
Singing as a therapeutic agent in Pentecostal worship
Singing has always been part of worship in a Pentecostal spiritual service. However, the role of singing in Pentecostal worship as a therapeutic agent has been under-researched. In order to bridge this research gap, this article is an interdisciplinary study of singing and Pentecostal worship. It seeks to demonstrate that the act of singing is a therapeutic agent in Pentecostal worship. The article will explore singing as a biblical concept to es…
Prosperity gospel and the culture of greed in post-colonial Africa
Christianity in post-colonial Africa is highly influenced and shaped by the prosperity message. The popular and materialistic gospel is sweeping across the continent like a gale-force wind, which is irresistible. Previous studies on prosperity gospel have indeed defined the concept as a global phenomenon and in an African context. This study is an interdisciplinary reflection on prosperity gospel and the culture of greed in post-colonial Africa. …
Gender dimensions in Pentecostal leadership
Women play an important role in Pentecostal Christianity, especially in an African context. They are a majority in most local assemblies and contribute a large percentage in terms of the income of such assemblies. Women are active participants in the activities of local assemblies such as prayer, fellowship and catering. The participation of women in general activities has been acknowledged by scholars interested in gender dimensions in Pentecost…
Dealing with the cultural and financial challenges during death of a loved one and repatriation of the remains
The death of a loved one and the repatriation of the remains have become the double pain experienced by many Zimbabweans in South Africa. The double pain is caused by the cultural demand for burial to be conducted at the home country and the financial demands to do so. While previous studies on mission and theology have addressed the pain of death, only few have looked at the second pain of repatriation. The research gap calls for missiologists t…
Spirit baptism and the doctrine of initial evidence in African Pentecostal Christianity
Pentecostalism is known for the belief in Spirit baptism that is accompanied by the doctrine of initial evidence, that is, speaking in tongues. The practice of the doctrine of initial evidence has become a unique feature of Pentecostalism for many years since its beginning. Similarly, Spirit baptism and the doctrine of initial evidence are practised in African Pentecostal Christianity, especially in classical Pentecostal churches and charismatic …
Propagating the fear of witchcraft
Pentecostal prophecy is one of the major themes of the theology and practice of religion among the prophets of New Prophetic Churches in South Africa and a major factor to the growth and expansion of Pentecostalism in Southern Africa. This paper offers a reflection on the role of prophecy in relation to the fear of witchcraft in the region. The contribution is that Pentecostal prophecy is not always in confrontation but sometime propels the fear …
New paradigms of pneumatological ecclesiology brought about by new prophetic churches within South African Pentecostalism
Pneumatological ecclesiology has caught the interest of many Pentecostal theologians, especially in the three main sub-traditions of Pentecostalism, that is, classical Pentecostalism (later CP), Pentecostal African Independent Churches (later PAIC) and charismatics. There is however a research gap in studying pneumatological ecclesiology in the new prophetic churches (later NPCs). Therefore, the study of pneumatological ecclesiology in light of t…
Towards a balancing act between the emergence of prophetic churches and organisational culture in South African Pentecostalism
Scholars with interest in South African Pentecostalism have highlighted the emergence of New Prophetic Churches (later NPCs) in South Africa in the last 5 years. These scholars have indeed characterised NPCs, their theology of new prophetism and pointed to the leading figures in these churches. Majority of these scholarly works have highlighted the abuse of religion by some NPCs. Research gap exists in the relationship between the NPCs and organi…
Religious live-streaming in response to coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown in South Africa
he novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a virus that firstly struck in Wuhan, China, but its impact is felt by the whole world. The spread of the virus in South Africa caused President Cyril Ramaphosa to announce a national state of disaster in the country on 15 March 2020. Subsequently, on 23 March 2020, the President announced a total shutdown of the economy, which is also known as lockdown, effective from 26 March 2020. The restriction…
The Relationship between the Economic Strand of Contemporary Pentecostalism and Neo-Liberalism in Post-1994 South Africa
South Africa endured racial segregation under the national party for many years until 1994, with the attainment of democracy. In the process of negotiating a democracy like the CODESA negotiations, the ANC-led government found itself adopting economic policies that embraced neo-liberalism, which later became unfavorable to the black majority in South Africa. Consequently, although these economic policies of the post-colonial South Africa have mad…
The Balance Between Theory and Praxis in South African Pentecostalism
Recent developments within South African Pentecostalism reveal that a number of pastors in new Prophetic Churches abuse religion and women and engage in other extreme practices of religion. The vast majority of scholars have linked these recent developments with the gap that exists between theory and praxis in South African Pentecostalism. This article bridges the gap by using Patmos, a Bible School started by Elias Letwaba, one of the first Blac…
Triumphalist theology in the context of prophetic Pentecostalism in South Africa
There has been a growing literature covering the abuse of power among New Prophetic Churches and their leaders in South Africa. This article explores the rationale behind the abuse of power among the NPCs by assessing triumphalist theology as a theoretical framework. The link between triumphalist theology and the abuse of power reveals different layers of the abuse of power evident in a triumphalist movement, triumphalist prophets, and a triumpha…
Spirituality of Liberation in African Pentecostal Worship and Its Implications for Black Theology
Pentecostal worship is widely studied with but little attention given to its link with a spirituality of liberation. This article uses literary analysis to demonstrate that African Pentecostal Worship (hereafter APW) is an expression of a spirituality of liberation with implications for Black theology. In order to achieve this, the article introduces Black theology within the theoretical framework of a spirituality of liberation. APW, an African …
Pentecostalism and Cultism in South Africa
Grieving during a pandemic
Collective grieving during the death and the burial processes of a loved one forms part of the healing process of many Africans in different contexts. However, with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the various restrictions imposed during the hard lockdown, the form and shape of grieving has had to change. Factors such as limitations on the number of people who can attend the funeral, lack of contact with the corpse, overall tr…
Thuma Mina
This article explores the prospect of the Ramaphosa presidency and its success by reflecting on the ‘Thuma Mina’ concept. In his State of the Nations Address on 16 February 2018, President Ramaphosa cited the Thuma Mina song of Hugh Masekela to mobilise the resourcefulness of South Africans to volunteer their services to create a better future for all. In this article, it becomes clear that ‘Thuma Mina’ is more than just a song by Hugh Masekela a…
Pastoral Interventions During the Pandemic
The role of ecumenical bodies in curbing abuses in New Prophetic Churches in South Africa
The proliferation of New Prophetic Churches within the broader Pentecostal movement in South Africa has come with the challenge of the abuse of religion and people’s beliefs. These abuses have attracted the attention of the government through the Cultural, Religious, and Linguistic Communities (CRL) commission with calls for the regulation of religion to deal with the abuses. This article worked within the context of Christian ecumenism and explo…
Demonology, eschatology and vaccinology in African independent Pentecostalism
Public discourses on the reliability of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines in dealing with the upsurge of virus cases and deaths are developing and ongoing in many different contexts, as countries around the world are doing their best to build high and lasting immunity. This article worked within the framework of Pentecostal faith and outlined the Pentecostal perspectives on COVID-19 vaccines. The article is a literature analysis on the…
Towards Ecumenical Dialogue between African Pentecostalism and Roman Catholic
There are undoubtedly differences between Roman Catholic and African Pentecostalism such as doctrinal issues and salvific conceptualisations. Besides non-Catholics, specifically Pentecostal churches have always been perceived as non-churches and lacking the real salvation by Roman Catholics. Thus, Roman Catholics have looked at Pentecostals with the eye of suspicion regardless of ecumenical efforts made to bring the two together. Similarly, Pente…
Integration in the early black Pentecostal community
Early Pentecostalism in South Africa followed the pattern of the 1906 Azusa Street Revival in Los Angeles, United States of America in uniting people in their diversity. In its early development, the South African Pentecostal movement united people who came from different cultural backgrounds, skin colour, races, ethnicity, language groups, economic backgrounds, and so forth. However, a few years after its establishment, the movement followed the…
Sociology (64 works) · Christian Theology and Mission (56 works) · Philosophy (56 works) · Pentecostalism and Christianity Studies (53 works) · Religion, Society, and Development (48 works) · Political science (43 works) · Theology (41 works) · Law (40 works) · History (26 works) · Philosophy (25 works)